CONTROVERSIAL Rutherford recycler Truegain continues to make headlines, this time in State Parliament where Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison has called on Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton for a please explain.
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Mrs Aitchison wants to know what action the government has taken to address several spikes in PFAS tests undertaken at the former Truegain site at Rutherford.
Mrs Aitchison put questions on notice in parliament to the minister which has prompted the Environment Protection Authority to publicly release the results after PFAS overflowed from the factory during heavy rain in March last year.
The contamination of Stony, Fishery and Wallis creeks sparked precautionary advice for residents along the waterways to avoid consuming some produce if livestock and chickens have consumed water from the creeks.
“Two high readings which have been detected upstream from Truegain are cause for concern and the EPA needs to explain to the community what action that have taken to address it,” Mrs Aitchison said.
“Minister Upton must fully explain the extent of the Rutherford PFAS contamination. These figures are for part of the catchment but our community also wants results for Fishery and Wallis creeks.”
A spokesperson for Minister Upton said Mrs Aitchison should know better than to blame the EPA for pollution caused by a company that has been repeatedly fined and penalised.
“The EPA has issued 18 penalty notices since 2000 and successfully prosecuted Truegain twice in the NSW Land and Environment Court,” the spokesperson said.
“The EPA has also served notices requiring the former owner to clean up the site. Following non-compliance by the owner, the EPA is engaging contractors to do the work and recover costs.
“As soon as PFAS was first reported in the area, NSW Government agencies informed the community and have been keeping them up to date ever since.
“The community of Rutherford would not know about the extent of PFAS contamination in their area were it not for the work of the NSW Government through the EPA. It’s time Labor stopped the fake news on PFAS.”